Diagnostic agents storage

ABSTRACT

A storage rack adapted to hold a plurality of bottles of medical diagnostics, such as blood typing sera, consists of a flat plastic base plate having in ordered configuration thereon and effectively integral therewith a plurality of cylindrical plastic sleeves each of such size as to conveniently hold a single bottle, and having a spring loaded pin to prevent held bottle from being accidently displaced during use.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,731,819 Sandhage 45 May 8, 1973 [541DIAGNOSTIC AGENTS STORAGE 2,710,101 6/1955 Rubin .l.....211 74 3,186,5566/1965 Forsstrom ..211/74 [76] Inventor g g p g gf i 2,620,089 12/1952Van Loghem. ....24s/154 x an age ear 3,352,427 11/1967 Lawrence ..211 74[22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 Primary Examiner-Roy D; Frazier AssistantExaminer-Abraham Frankel [21] Appl' 182610 Attorney,Samuel Branch Walker[52] US. Cl ..211/74, 24/257 R, 248/154, ABSTRACT 248/314 A stora k I gerac adapted to hold a plurality of bottles of 511 {:tiCl. ..Af17b 73/00medical diagnostics, Such as blood typing Sm [58] re d 02f4S8egr6c1h248/1154 sists of a flat plastic base plate having in ordered con- 3 /22 2 figuration thereon and effectively integral therewith a plurality ofcylindrical plastic sleeves each of such size [56] References Clted asto conveniently hold a single bottle, andhaving 3 UNITED STATES PATENTSspring loaded pin to prevent held bottle from being accidently displacedduring use. 2,640,595 6/1953 Byford ..211/74 3,388,807 6/1968 Emmitt..211/74 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures DIAGNOSTIC AGENTS STORAGEBACKGROUND. OF THE INVENTION More and more diagnostic agents are beingused by the medical profession. Some of the better known of these aretyping sera for typing blood as A, B, AB, 0, Rh positive, Rh negative,etc. As more tests are developed for different clinical conditions, themore little bottles of the diagnostic agents accumulate on the medicalworkbench. These agents must each be meticulously carefully labeled,identified and stored, frequently in a refrigerator, for use indiagnosing a specific attribute of a patients condition.

With the number of such bottles in use, and the constantly increasingnumber of tests, it is extremely easy to knock over bottles, or pick thewrong bottle, or pick up a part of a set rather than the complete set,or the fumble around a group of bottles to find the specific one for aspecific test at a specific time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention it hasbeen found that a convenient storage rack adapted to handle a pluralityof such bottles is formed by effectively integrally fastening aplurality of cylindrical plastic sleeves to a flat plastic base.Conveniently the cylinders are right circular cylinders. Thecross-section of the cylinder may be elliptical, circular or rectangularor other shape adapted to fit smoothly and retain a single bottlecontaining a diagnostic. Usually the bottles are round and hence theholders are circular in cross-section. Conveniently but not necessarily,a spring loaded pin or inserted spring fits into each such cylindricalsleeve so that when a bottle is placed in the sleeve, the spring bearsagainst the side of the bottle and prevents relative motion of thebottle in the sleeve. Hence even if the rack is jarred or shakened thebottles do not fall out, and yet can be easily removed for the insertionof new bottles or at a time of use; if the clinician desires to remove abottle at the time he is using part of the contents. On the other hand,the bottles are sufficiently retained so that it is convenient to removea stopper and dispense an appropriate proportion of the contents of asingle bottle for a diagnostic test, while using the rack to hold thebottle in position.

Obviously, the configuration and number of cylindrical sleeves may bemodified to suit a particular series of tests and the estheticconsiderations deemed preferable by a designer or user.

Conveniently but not necessarily the base is a rectangular base with aconvenient number, such as six, sleeves arranged in linear order.

Preferably the plastic cylinders are transparent so that the labels onthe bottles and the quantity of the diagnostic remaining may beascertained by inspecting through the sleeves without the necessity forindividually removing the bottles. If desired, the shape of the bottleand the cylinder may be keyed so that all of the labels are oriented ina single direction.

For small scale production, it is convenient to cut off sections of aplastic tube to form the plastic sleeves, and adhesively unite to aplastic base. Both the tube and the base may be of a material such aspolystyrene, and one of the standard styrene cements can be used tosoften the end of a cylindrical sleeve, as the sleeve is placed inposition, and asthe adhesive evaporates, the

cylindrical sleeve is effectively made unitary with the base. As anadhesive may be used a solvent containing additional styrene, or asolvent may be used as the adhesive with softening of the styrene of thesleeveand base causing adhesive union of the two parts. Polystyrenecements are well known in the industry,

Alternatively, for larger production, appropriate molds can be made anda single assembly formed by molding techniques. As molds of such a sizeand configuration are quite expensive, unless production run runninginto many thousands is contemplated, adhesive union to form monolithicstorage racks is a preferred method of assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a plasticstorage rack. FIG. 2 is a top view of such storage rack. FIG. 3 is afront view of such storage rack.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The plastic storage rack 11 isformed from a rectangular base 12 which has effectively unitariallyattached thereto a plurality of cylindrical sleeves 13. In theconfiguration shown, the sleeves are of circular cross-sec tion. Thesleeves are attached to the base with an adhesive 14 which is adapted tothe material of the base and sleeves. For example, the polystyreneplastic may be used, and a solvent of styrene, which may containadditional components, is used as the adhesive although a solvent suchas toluene may be used to soften the ends of the cylindrical sleeves andthe rectangular base by touching a drop of toluene to the juncture whichby capillarity is carried between two portions and dissolves enough ofeach so that on gentle pressing an effectively monolithic rack isformed.

The size and shape of the sleeves are such as to hold a diagnosticbottle 15.

Depending upon the quantity of "the diagnostic used, the number of teststo be made, and other'choices, the

sleeves may be from 1% inch or smaller in diameter up to about 2 inchesin diameter. The height of the sleeve is such that the bottle isconveniently held therein while exposing the mouth of the bottle foruse. A sleeve height of an inch to two inches is frequently convenient.The plastic base is large enough to insure stability and has sufficientweight for the convenience of the user.

In one particular configuration, the length of the base was 8 /4 inches,its width 2 inches and thickness 3/16 inch with six sleeves each havingan exterior diameter of 1 inch and an interior diameter of /1! inch anda height of 1 /4 inches being attached thereto.

For the convenience of the user, a legend 16 is silk screened onto thebase to identify both the source and the general type of materialcontained. The label on the individual bottle is of course the ultimateidentification for the desired contents.

To aid in holding the bottles against accidental displacement, as shownin FIG. 2, a plurality of spring pins 17 are inserted as secants in thecylindrical sleeve by inserting in spring pin holes 18, and crimping toform spring pin crimps 19 at each end of each spring pin. By usingspring wire, a bottle may be pressed into each sleeve, therebydeflecting the spring pin to the side which permits the bottle to reachto the bottom of the sleeve and contact the base. The spring hassufficient spring loading and rigidity that the bottle does not becomeaccidently displaced, but may be removed when desired.

Another type of spring loading is shown in the right end cylinder, andconsists of an insert spring 20 in an insert spring groove 21, theinsert spring groove is formed of an open groove in part and a closedgroove in part with a spring being bent to fit in and be held by theclosed groove with the end springing up and retaining the bottle inposition. Optionally more complex springs may be used, but the springpin or insert pin gives good retention, permit ready removal, is simple,and not subject to wear and tear or displacement.

Whereas the particular rack above described is formed of a polystyrene,obviously other plastics may be used with adhesives which are adapted toadhesively unite such plastics, or with molds constructed to form theentire assembly as a single molded piece.

It is also obvious that size, shape and configuration of both thecylindrical sleeves and the base plate and the number of sleeves may bemodified in accordance with the desires of the particular user or therequirements of a series of tests. For many purposes, six sleeves holdenough diagnostic bottles for a particular purpose and permit storage ofa related group of diagnostic agents in a refrigerator, with the removalof the entire set for use by merely lifting a single base plate.

Additionally, the technican may be certain that he has the entire setand does not forget one, to find himself embarassed by having all but asingle required bottle to perform a diagnostic test. The quantityremaining of each of a set can be determined at one quick inspection, toavoid the risk of running out of one ofa set.

I claim:

1. A storage rack adapted to hold a plurality of bottles of a medicaldiagnostics set consisting essentially of a flat rectangular plasticbase plate,

and in ordered straight line, spaced configuration thereon, andadhesively united to the base to form an integral unit, and effectivelyintegral therewith,

a plurality of cylindrical plastic sleeves, each having an interior sizeadapted to surround and retain a medical diagnostic bottle, and in eachsleeve, near the top, a bottle retaining resilient spring pin, insertedthrough two holes as a secant in the cylindrical sleeve, and crimped atits ends externally of the sleeve, to prevent accidental displacement ofthe bottle.

1. A storage rack adapted to hold a plurality of bottles of a medicaldiagnostics set consisting essentially of a flat rectangular plasticbase plate, and in ordered straight line, spaced configuration thereon,and adhesively united to the base to form an integral unit, andeffectively integral therewith, a plurality of cylindrical plasticsleeves, each having an interior size adapted to surround and retain amedical diagnostic bottle, and in each sleeve, near the top, a bottleretaining resilient spring pin, inserted through two holes as a secantin the cylindrical sleeve, and crimped at its ends externally of thesleeve, to prevent accidental displacement of the bottle.